Performance display apparatus



July 8, 1969 H. s. CHAMBERLIN, JR., Erm. 3,454,942

PERFORMANCE DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22, 1966 n! FINISH STARIEgWgg2 2 6\|0|0% 4o\O f2s 3 V O \32 20%y 34 O\`\36 United States Patent O3,454,942 PERFORMANCE DISPLAY APPARATUS Henry S. Chamberlin, Jr.,Andover, Roger E. Graves, Jr.,

Amesbury, and Joseph P. Kelley, Belmont, Mass., as-

signors to Bio-Dynamics, Incorporated, Cambridge,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts` Filed Sept. 22, 1966, Ser. No.581,388

. Int. Cl. G08b 23/00, 5/22; A6313 21/00 U.S. Cl. 340-323 11 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An exercise machine performance evaluationdevice in which a single motor continuously drives a first belt having amoving indicator which represents a desired rate of performance andperiodically drives a second indicator belt which represents the actualrate of performance. The two belts travel at a different rate of speedsuch that the intermittent motion of the second belt by the motor inresponse to periodic inputs from the exercise device can equal theconstant rate of travel of the first belt. The duration of intermittentengagement of the second belt is selectively variable and thereforeprovides performance evaluation over a range of rates.

This invention relates to performance evaluation apparatus and moreparticularly to apparatus for providing a display of performance wherebythe performance may be easily correlated with an established standard.

In the performance of exercise or other activity by humans, it isfrequently desired to evaluate the activity. A particularly usefuldevice would enable the person performing the activity to evaluate hisown performance on a continuing basis and it is an object of thisinvention to provide a simple apparatus which enables such evaluation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display device which maybe easily coupled to an exercise machine or similar activity .mechanismand which provides a direct indication of the quality of the performanceof the operator of the exercise machine against a predeterminedcriterion.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a display having twochannels which are coordinated in space. Each display channel includesan indicator which is movable along a track, one indicator being areference driven, for example, at a xed rate as a function of time andthe second indicator being a function of performance and driven inresponse to operation of the supervised mechanism. In a particularembodiment, a common drive element is employed for both indicators eachof which is mounted an an independent endless belt. The common driveelement is rotated continuously at a fixed rate for a predeterminedperiod to drive the first or standard belt. A second belt drive isresponsive to a performance input from the associated exercise machineand that input causes the second belt to engage the common drive elementand be driven thereby for a predetermined relatively short interval. Therate of application of performance inputs from the exercise machine tothe display apparatus controls the movement of the performance (task)indicator along the performance track and that movement is correlatedwith the continually moving reference (time) indicator so that theoperator of the exercise machine may evaluate his performance againstthe pre-established standard. The apparatus includes an arrangement forad- 3,454,942 Patented July 8, 1969 ice justing the amount of advance ofthe performance ndicator in response to each performance input signal.The apparatus is a reliable, inexpensive and versatile device whichenables the operator of an exercise machine to evaluate his performanceon a continuing basis.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be seen asthe following description of a particular embodiment thereof progresses,in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an exercise machine and performanceevaluation display associated therewith;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view in diagrammatic form of the reference (time)belt of the performance evaluation display apparatus taken along theline 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View in diagrammatic form of the performance(task) belt of the display apparatus taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram view of the performance and referenceindicator drive arrangement employed in the apparatus shown in FIGS.1-3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of circuitry responsive to inputs from theexercise machine for advancing the performance indicator.

With reference to FIG. l there is shown an exercise machine 10 beingoperated by a person 12. Other activity mechanisms such as rowingmachines or treadmills also may be employed. In this arrangement, theexercise bicycle has a sprocket 14 which is driven in rotation bypedaling. Output line 16 is connected to the bicycle and for eachcomplete revolution of the sprocket a switch closes and applies a signalover line 16 to performance evaluation equipment generally indicated atblock 20.

That equipment includes a display which includes an upper channel(window) 22 behind which a belt 24 of Mylar or other suitable materialis positioned having an indicator 26 thereon in the form of a highcontrast line which may be painted 0r otherwise deposited or firmlyaffixed to the belt and a lower channel (-Window) 28 behind which asecond similar belt 30 is positioned having a similar type of indicator32 thereon. Also on the face of the equipment is control 34 (rheostat)which may be used to select or adjust the effective magnitude of inputsignal applied by mechanism 10 to drive the performance indicator belt30. The display panel 38 further includes a reset button 36.

Each Window of the display is approximately 14 inches long in ahorizontal plane, l inch wide and the windows are spaced 1/2 inch apart.On the panel 38 at the right end of each window a starting point isdesignated at which the lindicators 26 and 32 are initially aligned, Theperformance display window has a zero 40 positioned in alignment withthe start indication 42 on the standard display window. Near the leftend of the standard display window a finish mark 44 is provided andcorrespondingly located relative to the performance window is a seconddesignation 46-l00%. T wo pilot lights 47, 48 are also mounted on panel38.

The time belt 24 is mounted on three pulleys 50, 52 and 54 as shown inFIG. 2 for traverse around a triangular path. The performance belt 30 ismounted on two pulleys 51 and 53. Pulleys 50 and 51 are mounted on acommon shaft, but are free to rotate independently; the same is true ofpulleys 52 and 53. Roller 54 is mounted on a spring loaded arm andapplies tension to the time belt 24. The time belt 24 is driven bypulley 52, and pulley 52 is in turn driven by a rubber belt 55 by pulley56.

Belt 30 is periodically caused to engage roller 58 by means of idlerroller 60 which forces the belt against the drive roller to advance thatbelt a predetermined distance.

A block diagram of the drive system is shown in FIG. 4. That systemincludes a synchronous timing motor 70 which directly drives roller 56and through a linkage diagrammatically indicated as a step-up gear ratiodevice 72 and a clutch 74 causes task belt 30 to engage drive roller 58.The clutch 74 moves idler roller 60 and is actuated by trigger circuit76 which responds to an input from exercise machine to trigger a singleshot multivibrator 78 which controls transistor switch circuit 80 toenergize solenoid clutch 74 which pulls the idler roller 60 towards thedrive roller 58 and advances task belt 30 a predetermined distance. Thecircuit also includes a pulselength control adjustment 82 which respondsto element 34 on the display panel face 38 and thus controls theduration of engagement of the task belt with the drive roller 58.

Belt Z4 has three apertures (not shown) in it and belt 30 has twoapertures in it. When an aperture reaches a predetermined position anend sensor 90, 92 respectively is triggered. In the case of time belt24, the actuation of end sensor 90 operates a relay 94 whichde-energizes the motor 70. A restart circuit switch 96 located remotelyat the exercise machine 10 overrides relay 94 and restarts drive motor 70.

End sensor 92 is used for repositioning task belt 30 prior to initiationof the next performance evaluation. That circuitry includes a rewindmotor 100 which responds to switch 102 which is actuated by resetpushbutton 36 and is turned olf by relay 104 which is controlled by endsensor 92. The performance belt rewind motor 100 is mounted on a pivot;when the reset button is pushed, it physically forces the motor againstpulley 53 and at the same time trips a microswitch 102 which turns themotor on. The reset button must be held in until the mark 32 on the beltcomes around to the start position (on the order of one second). Themark is stopped automatically at the start position by a spring fallingthrough an aperture in the belt, which trips relay 104 and prevents anyfurther motion of the belt by the reset motor.

A schematic diagram of the performance input circuitry is shown in FIG.5. That circuitry includes terminals 110, 112 which are connected to aregulated twelve volt source. Connected across these terminals is avoltage divider network of resistors 114, 116 and a task performanceswitch 14' which is actuated periodically by the machine 10 on whichthis switch is located. When switch 14 is closed, a signal is coupled bycapacitor 118 through diode 120 to the input of multivibrator circuit78. That multivibrator includes two transistors 122, 124 and across-coupling network which includes a set of capacitors 126 (only twobeing shown) which are selectively connected in the circuit by switch128 located at the rear of the display package and a variable resistance130 which is controlled by control 34 on the face of display panel 38.The multivibrator circuit 78, when triggered, produces an output pulseof duration determined by the selected values of the variable resistance130 and the capacitor 126 in the crosscoupling network and causestransistors 132 and 134 in switch circuit 80 to conduct and energize thesolenoid coil 136 in the solenoid clutch circuit 74 to move idler roll60 towards drive roller 58 and carry task belt 30 into engagement withdrive roll 58 for the period of time determined by the duration of theoutput pulse of multivibrator 78. (Switch 138 in circuit 80 is normallyclosed).

In operation, the operator 12 prior to operating the exercising machinesets control 34 to a rate he believes appropriate. Reset button 36 isthen depressed and held until the marker 32 stops in alignment withmarker 26 at the starting position of the two display channels. Theoperator 12 then prepares to begin exercising (e.g., gets on thebicycle) and depresses the restart button, energizing drive motor 70, atwhich time he begins exercising at a rate suitable to keep marks 26 and32 aligned, mark 26 being driven continuously by the synchronous motorwhile mark 32 lis driven periodically in response to operation of theexercise machine. The pilot light 48 remains on until the eiort belt 30has been reset and the restart button 96 has been depressed. The pilotlight 47 then comes on and remains on until the time belt 24 has reachedthe stop position. Through selection of a desired drive ratio element72, a suitable ratio being 122.6, and the time that the solenoid clutch74 holds the idler roll 60 against the task belt, the motion of the taskbelt appears to be a substantially continuous advance and provides anaccurate, immediate representation of the rate at which exercise isbeing performed.

When the time belt 24 reaches the finish, it is stopped by end sensorwhich turns off motor 70 and at the same time the task belt drive isalso stopped. Thus, after the predetermined interval, a typical intervalbeing ninety seconds, both belts are disabled and the performance of theexercise over that interval may then be evaluated.

What is claimed is:

1. Performance evaluation display apparatus for use with an activitymechanism comprising two aligned display channels, tirst and secondindicators disposed adjacent respective ones of said display channels,rst apparatus for advancing said rst indicator continuously at a xedrate for a predetermined period of time, and second apparatus responsiveto a series of performance inputs for advancing said second indicatorperiodically to provide an indication of performance as a function oftime indicated by said lirst indicator.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said indicator ismounted on an endless belt and further including a common drive elementfor said two belts.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second apparatusincludes a drive element which moves said second belt into engagementwith said common drive element in response to each said performanceinput.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further including means foradjusting the amount of advance of.

said second indicator in response to a performance input.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said adjustment meansincludes a single shot multivibrator, a plurality of capacitors, aswitch for selecting one of said capacitors for connection in the crosscoupling network of said multivibrator, and a variable resistance in thecross coupling network of said multivibrator.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 and further including a switchwhich is momentarily actuated by the coupled activity mechanism forgenerating each said performance input and triggering saidmultivibrator.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein each said indicator ismounted on an endless belt and a further including a common drive forsaid two belts.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said second apparatusincludes an idler roller which moves said second belt into engagementwith said common drive in response to each said performance input.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 and further including a controlindication carried by each belt, the control indication carried by saidfirst belt de-energizing said common drive and the control indicationcarried by said second belt enabling reset of said second belt to itsstarting position.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 and further including anauxiliary drive for resetting said second belt and a manually operatedswitch for initiating operation of said auxiliary drive, and wherein thecontrol indication carried by said second belt terminates operation ofsaid second drive.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further including anactivity mechanism remotely located from said display apparatus, anactivity switch on said activity mechanism which is periodicallyactuated during operation of said activity mechanism for producing saidper- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1919 Doglione 272-73 4/1950 Declercq 272-73 2,784,591 3/1957 Shoor 272-73 3,375,717 4/ 1968Impellizzeri et al. 73-379 JOHN W. CALDWELL, Primary Examiner.

5 A. KASPER, Assistant Examiner.

